Zapier vs. n8n: Which Automation Tool Fits a Small Business?
Zapier is the easy, cloud-only option with 9,000+ app connections. n8n counts whole workflow runs instead of steps and can run on your own server.
Zapier vs n8n comes down to how much setup you want to own. Both connect your apps so that a new order, form entry or email sets off steps elsewhere without you. Zapier is built for non-technical owners and runs only in its own cloud. n8n is friendlier to tinkerers: it charges per full workflow run rather than per step, supports custom code and offers a self-hosted Community Edition on GitHub.
Prices below come from each company's pricing page, checked October 22, 2026. n8n lists its cloud prices in euros and shows annual billing; Zapier lists US dollars. Already weighing Zapier against Make? See our Zapier vs. Make comparison. New to automation? Start with our guide to turning a weekly task into an automation.
| At a glance | Zapier | n8n |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | Free plan, 100 tasks a month | Self-hosted Community Edition |
| Starting paid price | $19.99 a month (Professional) | 20 euros a month billed annually (Starter) |
| How usage is counted | Tasks (each action step) | Executions (each full workflow run) |
| Integrations | 9,000+ apps | 1,000+ integrations (n8n's figure) |
| Self-hosting | No, cloud only | Yes |
| Users on entry plan | Team plan from $69 a month for 25 users | Unlimited users on Starter |
| AI agents | Separate Agents plans | Included from Starter |
| Best for | Non-technical owners | Technical teams and long workflows |
Zapier
Zapier's Professional plan adds multi-step Zaps, unlimited premium apps, webhooks and AI fields. You choose a monthly task tier, and the price rises with it.
- Connects 9,000+ apps, according to Zapier's app directory
- Free plan with unlimited Zaps, Tables and Forms
- Team plan covers 25 users with shared Zaps and SAML SSO
- Zapier says paying yearly saves 33%
- Every action step counts as a task, so long workflows use up a plan faster
- Free plan is limited to two-step Zaps
- AI agents are a separate product: 400 activities a month free, Agents Pro $400 a year
n8n
Starter allows 5 concurrent executions, 1 shared project and 7 days of execution logs. Pro adds admin roles, global variables and 30 days of logs. The Business plan, at 667 euros a month billed annually, is self-hosted only and adds SSO and Git version control.
- One execution is a full workflow run, however many steps it has
- Unlimited workflows and users on every cloud plan
- Agents, MCP and AI nodes included from Starter
- Self-hosted Community Edition available on GitHub
- Smaller catalog: n8n claims 1,000+ integrations
- Cloud prices shown in euros and on annual billing
- Self-hosting means you handle servers, updates and backups
Pick Zapier if nobody on your team wants to think about servers, you need a less common app connected, or your automations are short and simple. Pick n8n if your workflows have many steps, call AI models or need custom code, because paying per full run usually stretches further, and you have someone comfortable with a more technical builder. If you are unsure, start on Zapier's free plan and move a workflow to n8n only once task counts start driving up your bill.
Prices and features checked October 22, 2026 from each company's own site. They change often, so confirm before you buy. We are not paid by either company.
- Zapier pricing (Zapier)
- Zapier app directory (Zapier)
- n8n plans and pricing (n8n)
- n8n vs. Zapier (n8n)
Is AI recommending your business?
Our AI visibility audit checks what ChatGPT, Gemini and Google's AI say about you, and includes a 1:1 review of the results.
See the audits